By Mary-Justine Lanyon

(Photos by Mary-Justine Lanyon)

“It’s been a pleasure to get to know you,” Assistant Superintendent Shannon Hansen said of the 10 members of the Rim of the World Unified School District who were retiring. “From the bottom of our hearts, we say thank you.”

The retirees include:

• Jeffrey DeMaio, 23 years of service, custodian at Lake Arrowhead Elementary School
• Lee Schmidt, nine years, custodian at Charles Hoffman Elementary School
• Kristin Cardrant, six years, teacher at LAE
• Katalin Hunyady Mayer, 17 years, teacher at Mary Putnam Henck Intermediate School
• Petru Onita, 40 years, skilled maintenance
• Kent Sammons, five years, teacher, Rim of the World High School
• Janet Frey, 18 years, child nutrition, Valley of Enchantment Elementary School
• James Whitesell, 26 years, teacher, Rim High
• Heather Dominguez, 12 years, director of educational services
• Teresa Wells, 18 years, accounts payable, district office

Skilled maintenance worker Petru Onita, pictured with Shannon Hansen, retired after 40 years of service to the Rim district.

Four of the retirees were present at the June 8 meeting of the board of trustees and were presented with special recognitions of their service.

Terry Gomes, assistant principal of MPH, told Mayer, “You have the best jokes. Mrs. Whiteside (MPH principal) recalls her first day at MPH and you were the first teacher to welcome her. You demonstrated your compassion and dedication to the students from the very first interaction. We wish you all the best. Thank you for your service and all you have done for our students.”

As Hansen called Onita up to be recognized, many in the audience took out their keys and shook them, calling out “key man!” Hansen thanked Onita for putting his desk together.

Retiring Spanish teacher James Whitesell is flanked by Assistant Superintendent Shannon Hansen and Rim High Principal Brian Willemse.

Congratulating Whitesell on his retirement, Principal Brian Willemse noted that the Spanish teacher was at Rim High when he was a student there. “You will be dearly missed,” Willemse told Whitesell.

“It’s been an honor to work with you,” Hansen told Dominguez, who started her career at Colton Unified in 1986. She joined Rim as a principal in 2018.

Heather Dominguez (center) has retired after a 37-year career in education. She was joined by Superintendent Dr. Kimberly Fricker, Chief Business Official Jenny Haberlin, Assistant Superintendent Shannon Hansen, board president Bill Mellinger, and board members Cindy Gardner, Scott Craft, Jordan Zarate and Jordana Ridland.

“You always bring positivity to everything you put your fingerprint on,” Hansen said.

“We say thank you and good luck to you all,” he said to all the retirees. “Enjoy life.”

Michell Helguera was all smiles at the end of her final report to the school board.

The trustees also said goodbye to Michell Helguera, who has been the student representative to the board from Rim High. She will be attending UCR, majoring in education.

“Thanks to everyone,” Michell said. “This was the biggest honor I could have had.”